Identity theft occurs when someone finds your personal information such as your Social Security number and uses it for criminal purposes such as credit fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission website. Consumers need to protect themselves from identity theft using proven protection methods. Taking the time to protect yourself from identity theft reduces the chances of having your financial world ruined.
Shredding
One of the ways that criminals get your personal information is through the bills you throw away in your garbage, according to Dani Arthur, writing on the Bankrate website. To prevent your bills from becoming sources of valuable criminal information, shred all of your documents before throwing them away. Documents to shred include all bills and invoices, credit card offers and non-bill correspondence from your creditors. Consider buying a filing cabinet and saving invoices and creditor correspondence.
Be Suspicious
Criminals looking to steal your identity will use common communication means that may not seem unusual to you, according to the Federal Trade Commission website. Some of these methods include sending you emails asking you to confirm your account information by clicking on a link to log into your account or calling you at home and asking you to confirm your account information. You should always be suspicious of any correspondence or phone calls from a bank or creditor that asks you to confirm your personal information. Do not click on links in emails that will send you to a login page. That may look like the login page you are used to, but it is a page used by criminals to get your personal information. Log in to the creditor website directly to see if it has any messages for you about confirming your information. If you get a call saying that the person is from a bank or creditor asking you to confirm your account information, tell him you will call the financial institution at the customer service phone number you have to check on any account issues.
Social Security Number
The Social Security Administration website reminds us that your Social Security number is an important piece of your information that identity thieves would like to get ahold of. Do not carry your Social Security card around in your wallet. It could fall out of your wallet without you knowing it, or if your wallet gets lost or stolen your card would be in there. Only use your Social Security number for select and secured situations such as applying for a loan or credit account, or applying for a job.
Internet
When you are shopping online, your credit card information could be subject to identity theft if you are not careful, according to the Bankrate website. A standard Internet website address starts with "http://". If you look in the address bar of your browser, you will see the address starting with this indication. A secure website starts with an "https://". If the website address you are on does not start with the secure website indication, do not input any of your credit card or personal information on that page.
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